Automatic electric switch.



No. 877,790. PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. M. MINTZ. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1906.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 15,1906.

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MIKE .MINTZ, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILL INoIs AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1908.

Application filed May 15,1906. Serial No. 316.9251

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, MIKE MINTZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Electric Switch, of whlch the followingisa specification.

My invention relates to switches adapted for automatically opening or closing an electric circuit, and has for its object means peculiar in nature, employing fixed and movable contacts, and means whereby to accelerate circuit closing action, of the movable contact over movement imparted thereto by the switch opening means.

The invention consists of novel and im-.

proved means, designed, chiefly to obviate sparking upon opening and closing, or cuttlng in and out action of switch contacts, employed in high voltage circuits.

My invention is illustrated by the several views of the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, part in section. Fig.2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, and part in section, showing another comprehension of my invention. Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view, taken .on line 4, 4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a like view,

part in section, showing another form comprehended under the broad scope of my invention.

In the ractice of my invention I employ a suitable Imdy portion A, having support upon a casing B. The interior of the casing B is divided into separate chambers C, D, by any suitable diaphragm E. Open passageway is had with the casing chamber 0, through a suitably connected pipe F.

G denotes a pin, or stem arranged with its lower end secured to, or resting'upon the ifipper, or chamber D side, of the diaphragm The u per end of, the pin G is extended projecting oosely through the top, or chamer D side of the casing, as shown by Fig. 1, and said projecting end of the pin G arranged in contact with the lower side of an oscillatory lever H, consisting of a weighted arm I having a laterally disposed arm J. The lever is rovided with fulcrum support at K on any suitable support.

It is designed to provide rigid oppositely projecting arms M, on the body-portion A, one of which is fashioned into cup-shape, as indicated at N, adapted for containing a body of mercury 0, having an oil surface P.

The other arm N is constructed with its outer end adapted to provide a stop-device, to limit movement of an oscillating member, described farther on.

Q denotes an arm having its upper end provided with a suitable -weight R, and its ower end fashioned into suitably spaced forks S.

The arm Q issupported near its lower end by a ivot T, located on the body portion A, suitaiily above the free end of the arm J, and the free end of said arm is made projecting into the space between the forks S of the weighted arm Q, adapted for operative engagement with the forks S as Wlll be understood. I

, U denotes a conductive member, fashioned into any suitable form. The member U is arranged with free oscillatory support on the body portion A, which may be located in horizonta plane with the pivotT, and is constructed with an arm V adapted to dip into the body of mercury O in the cup N, as indicated by dotted lines W, Fig. 1, when said member is oscillated as indicated by the arrow.

V is an arm constructed to provide a stopdevice adapted for engagement with the adjacent arm M, of the body-portion A.

In further carrying out my invention it is designed to have the 'body of mercury O, in the cup N, form a terminal or contact in circuit with a conductor 1.

2 denotes a similarconstruction, having suitable conductive connection with the oscillatory member U. I

In further description of my invention, constructed as illustrated in Fig. 1, I would say that it is designed to have the pipe F extended providing opencommunicating passage-way between the chamber C, in the casing D, and any air, gas or water storage tank, steam boiler, &o., whose predetermined high or low pressure conveyed into the casing chamber C, shall effect operation of the diaphragm E, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

I would next call attention to lugs or shoulders 3, 4, spacedly located on the oscillatory member U. The lugs are made projecting ada ted' to be engaged by the weighted arm when same is adjusted.

My circuit closer is designed for use in the automatic opening or closing of a circuit, leading through the conductor 1, body of mercury O, oscillatory member U, and the conductor 2.

The conductors 1 and 2 are arranged, one extending from any desired electrical supply, and the other thereof, leading to the translating machine or device, as for instance, a motor providing power'for a pump adapted to store fluid or gas into a desired vessel or tank,

havin open communication, through a pipe F, wit the casing chamber C.

The device above mentioned may bean electro magnetically operated valve arranged to cut ofl feed of water into a steam boiler, or a similar valve located in a fluid or gas passage-way, between the storing apparatus and the vessel or tank, it being understood that the pipe F shall provide necessary communication between said vessel or tank, and the casing chamber C.

In Fig. 1 of my drawings, the oscillatory member U is shown adjusted with its circuit completing arm V Withdrawn. from the body of mercury 0, thereby opening the circuit 1, 2, and the dia hra m E shown bulging or lifted by force 0 pre etermined pressure in the casing chamber C, during which the current supply is desired to be cut out. ,Now it is apparent that upon pressure in the caslng chamber 0 being reduced to a redet'ermlned de ree, permltting the diap ragm E to gradual resume normal position, that the weighted arm I of the lever H will oper' ate by gravity, tilting the lever-arm J, and thereb through the latters engagement with t e forks S of the weighted arm, Q,

operate, adjusting the weighted arm until same has passed vertical position. Further movement of said weighted arm willbe accelerated due to gravity, engage the lug or shoulder 4, on the oscillatory member U, and by force of impact thus imparted, oscillate the member U, quickly lungin its conductive arm V, into the flbdy of mercury 0, thereby securing completion of the circuit 1,1 2, cutting in the source of electrical sup- P Y In the comprehension of my invention illustrated in Flg. 4 of my drawing, a denotes an oscillatory member having free tilting action on a supporting fulcrum b. The mem ber a, is provided with projectin pins or shoulders c, a conductive arm and an arm e adapted for engagement with a stop device f. V p

The stop device may be arranged .on a liquid. containing tank g, having connected therewith, high and lower arranged pipes respectively, h, i. 1

j denotes a suitable cup for containing a body of mercury 76 with an oil surface as shown, the cup j being supported by an arm Z, secured to any suitable base. Conductive wires m, n, are arranged in circuit with the body of mercury is, and the oscillatory member a, the same constituting circuit connection between the electrical supply and translating machine or device hereinbefore described in the statement referring to the form of my invention illustrated in'Fig. 1.

0 denotes an oscillating device, constructed trough shape in cross-section, see Fig. 4, the same being supported on a pivot 12, and constructed with a longitudinally disposed arm p, having forks g, at its free end.

The tank g is designed to contain a predetermined level of fluid flowing thereinto and therefrom, through the pipes h, 'i.

In the tank g, I arrange a float r, having a stem 8, the latter being provided with a suitable head t, adapted for engagement with the upper or lower fork g, on the arm p, upon the rising or lowering fluid level in the'tank g, as will be understood.

In the trough shaped device 0, Iarrange a suitable ball u, designed to roll from end to end of the trough im arting accelerated oscillating movement t ereto, by force of gravity, after the ball has rolled along beyond a point vertically over the pivot support I) of the trough.

Obviously the accelerated movement thus imparted to the trough by rising and lowering action of the float r, the oscillatory mem ber a is imparted operation quickly opening or closing the circuit m, n, the same as effected by the form of circuit closer shown by Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate another comprehen sion of my invention, the same differing from the construction of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, in the employment of a weight v having free sliding movement on a rod w, having support at the ends of an oscillatory device :0, t e latter, save being adapted to provide support for the rod w, is constructed in all other respects, substantially the same is the similar operating feature illustrated in For operation of the circuit closing device illustrated in Fig. 5, I may employ diaphragm or float devices with suitable connecting means, or a cylinder (1 and piston b, the latter being provided with a headed rod 0, adapted for suitable connections With a forked device (1, forming a part of the oscillatory member as.

For operation of the piston 1), its cylinder a is made communicating through connecting' passage-way 6, with any desired tan'k retort, maintaining predetermined pressure through ower means electrically operated as herein efore referred to, or for preserving water level in steam boilers as will be understood.

In Fig. 5, a. and a, the mercury terminal a and circuit a a are substantially the same ,feature, functionally.

My improved automatic electric switch will be understood from the above description.

What I claim is The combination in a circuit closer, of a stationary body-portion, a mercury contact and a spacedly located stopping device on the body-portion, an oscillatory conductive member, said conductive member having pivotal support on the body-portion, spacedly located shoulders on said oscillatory memher, an upwardly projecting arm with pivotalsupport on the body-portion, said arm being constructed at its upper end and made forked at its lower end, and being also arranged, adapted to contact one, or the other by adjusting it by gravitating movement of the weightedend of said pivoted arm, the

oscillatory arm and the weighted lever beingconcentrically pivoted, and means adapted in operation, to engage the forked end of said .pivoted arm, swinging it beyond a vertical position, therebyeffecting relatively quickened movement of said conductive oscillatory member, by gravitating impact engagement therewith, of the weighted end of said pivoted arm.

, MIKE MINTZ.

Witnesses:

F. 0. Downs, A. B. NICHOLS. 

